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BRITAIN-TRADITION-WASSAIL

ADRIAN DENNIS

The Hook Eagle Morris Men dance outside the Waggon and Horses pub during the annual Wassail night in Hartley Wintney, 40 miles (64 Kilometers) west of London, on January 4, 2013. The event, held near to twelfth night, celebrates both the passing of Christmas and the future good health of the fruit trees. Traditionally the custom involved the local farm workers visiting the orchard after dark with shotguns, horns, food and a large pail of cider. They would make a loud noise to raise the Sleeping Tree Spirit and to scare off demons. Cider would be poured over the roots and pieces of toast placed in the branches as a gift to the spirit of the tree. The wassail song is sung as a blessing or charm to bring fruitfulness or even in admonishment not to fail in the upcoming year. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

The Hook Eagle Morris Men dance outside the Waggon and Horses pub during the annual Wassail night in Hartley Wintney, 40 miles (64 Kilometers) west of London, on January 4, 2013. The event, held near to twelfth night, celebrates both the passing of Christmas and the future good health of the fruit trees. Traditionally the custom involved the local farm workers visiting the orchard after dark with shotguns, horns, food and a large pail of cider. They would make a loud noise to raise the Sleeping Tree Spirit and to scare off demons. Cider would be poured over the roots and pieces of toast placed in the branches as a gift to the spirit of the tree. The wassail song is sung as a blessing or charm to bring fruitfulness or even in admonishment not to fail in the upcoming year. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

A sign reading 'Black is not a crime, I'm proud to be black' is seen by the side of a track behind a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

A sign reading 'Black is not a crime, I'm proud to be black' is seen by the side of a track behind a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

A man uses a mobile phone on a bank in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

A man uses a mobile phone on a bank in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

A copy of the Koran rests on a bedside table in a temporary shelter built by a Sudanese man in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

A copy of the Koran rests on a bedside table in a temporary shelter built by a Sudanese man in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

A Sudanese man enters his temporary home in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

A Sudanese man enters his temporary home in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

The sun sets behind a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

The sun sets behind a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

The sun sets behind a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

The sun sets behind a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Police Shoot Man In Myers Park

Hannah Peters

Superintendent Richard Chambers talks to the media on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

Superintendent Richard Chambers talks to the media on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

Police Shoot Man In Myers Park

Hannah Peters

Superintendent Richard Chambers talks to the media on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

Superintendent Richard Chambers talks to the media on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

A woman cooks on a fire in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

A woman cooks on a fire in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Police Shoot Man In Myers Park

Hannah Peters

A general view of the scence where David Cerven was shot by police in Myers Park on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

A general view of the scence where David Cerven was shot by police in Myers Park on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

A young Christian woman from Eritrea stands outside a shelter in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

A young Christian woman from Eritrea stands outside a shelter in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Police Shoot Man In Myers Park

Hannah Peters

Superintendent Richard Chambers talks to the media on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

Superintendent Richard Chambers talks to the media on August 3, 2015 in Auckland, New Zealand. Police shot dead 21-year-old David Cerven, a Slovakian national on a one-year working visa in New Zealand. Cerven was wanted for three armed robberies in a week, and advanced on Police claiming to have a gun on Sunday night.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

Products for sale at a shop in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Products for sale at a shop in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Calais Migrants Attempt To Find A Way To Reach The UK

Rob Stothard

An Ethiopian man clears an area of shrubbery to make space for a tent in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

An Ethiopian man clears an area of shrubbery to make space for a tent in a make shift camp near the port of Calais on August 2, 2015 in Calais, France. Hundreds of migrants are continuing to attempt to enter the Channel Tunnel and onto trains heading to the United Kingdom.

Keywords

The Hook Eagle Morris Men dance outside the Waggon and Horses pub... News PhotoAnnual Event,Bar - Drink Establishment,Dancing,Hampshire - England,Hartley Wintney,Horizontal,Horse,Human Interest,London - England,Mulled Wine,Night,Offbeat,UKPhotographer ADRIAN DENNISCollection: AFP 2013 AFPThe Hook Eagle Morris Men dance outside the Waggon and Horses pub during the annual Wassail night in Hartley Wintney, 40 miles (64 Kilometers) west of London, on January 4, 2013. The event, held near to twelfth night, celebrates both the passing of Christmas and the future good health of the fruit trees. Traditionally the custom involved the local farm workers visiting the orchard after dark with shotguns, horns, food and a large pail of cider. They would make a loud noise to raise the Sleeping Tree Spirit and to scare off demons. Cider would be poured over the roots and pieces of toast placed in the branches as a gift to the spirit of the tree. The wassail song is sung as a blessing or charm to bring fruitfulness or even in admonishment not to fail in the upcoming year. AFP PHOTO / ADRIAN DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP/Getty Images)